BY GOLDENSTATE OF MINDRocket Boost: Bonzi Signs with the RoxBy Fantasy JunkieThu Sep 28, 2006 at 06:58:15 PM JSTSection: NBAOne of our anonymous inside sources, is reporting that Bonzi Wells is signing with the Houston Rockets for 2 years, $5 million.

Wells turned down a five-year, $36 million offer earlier this summer to remain with Sacramento after averaging 23.2 points for the Kings in the playoffs...Now I may not be a math major, but according to my calculations, I think the Kings deal was better. It's like Bonzi told his agent to negotiate the worst possible contract. "No no, 5 years, $36 million? That's way too much. If you can get me $31 million less, that would be perfect." Craziness I tell you.

"We're really good friends," McGrady told ESPN Insider's Chris Sheridan on Wednesday. "I was with Bonzi this offseason, was talking to him, and Houston's a place he's real interested in. He's a grown man, he's been in this league for a long time, and the decision will really come down to him."Shoot, this is what superstars can do for a team. They're friends with everybody and everybody wants to play with them. I'm sure the conversation went like this:

That's it. Then the next day Bonzi signs a two year deal worth $5 mil. Wait let me write that again, 2 years, $5 million. 2 years, $5 million! Are you kidding me? For a guy who scored 23ppg in the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs, that's just a ridiculously low contract. I thought it was some sort of hometown discount, but Bonzi's from Muncie, Indiana, nowhere near Houston. See how easy it is when you have a superstar? Even if the Warriors wanted to sign Bonzi, they would not have stood a chance against Tracy McGrady's mad crazy salesman skillz.

I thought the Rockets were going to contend with just the Shane Battier trade, but with Bonzi, they should be able to solidify a top 4 spot in the West. The big key to this deal is that it works as insurance if and when TMac goes down with an injury. They now have two very capable players in Battier and Bonzi to fill in the gaps so the team doesn't suffer through long losing periods like last year. So even if TMac misses a quarter of the regular season, but the Rockets make the playoffs, you still get TMac back for the games that count. All in all, it was a great deal for the Rockets.

I rank the top 4 teams in the West as:MavsSpursSunsWarriors (haha just kidding) - Rockets

*Also see mydedgerbil555's diary: bonzi's gone

Even at 2 years, $5 million, would Bonzi have fit on the Golden State Warriors?

If this happens, the Rockets will be a top 4 team!

Either of Bonzi or Battier will have to be 6th man because neither is really a PF, though they might try it having Battier at PF (he is 6'8) and Bonzi at SG or SF, with TMac either SG or SF.

If they are mostly healthy, especially Yao and TMac, they will be real contenders!

He's just doing this with plans to re-enter the FA market next offseason, as he'll just not exercise his player option with the Rockets. Still, this contract is completely ludicrous! How is this even possible? He must have been in panic mode, and just wanted to sign with a good tem to up his value for next year. But after all ths, I'd be surprised if he gets offered anythig near what the Queens did. I have a very hard time believing that NO teams offered him a pretty decent sized contract. Why couldn't the Warriors, with a new coach and some promise, throw like 3 times that at him and seen what happened? Hell, maybe they did, and he's just crazy, but this is the weirdest thing that's happened this offseason...

He's just doing this with plans to re-enter the FA market next offseason, as he'll just not exercise his player option with the Rockets. Still, this contract is completely ludicrous! How is this even possible? He must have been in panic mode, and just wanted to sign with a good tem to up his value for next year. But after all ths, I'd be surprised if he gets offered anythig near what the Queens did. I have a very hard time believing that NO teams offered him a pretty decent sized contract. Why couldn't the Warriors, with a new coach and some promise, throw like 3 times that at him and seen what happened? Hell, maybe they did, and he's just crazy, but this is the weirdest thing that's happened this offseason...

It's not that weird. It makes (some) sense. He's betting on having a great season for a very good team, opting out of his contract and cashing in the next offseason... obviously, that may backfire if he gets injured or plays poorly. But the idea is not bad, just riskier than usual.

As to why the Rockets?. Easy, they have, on paper, enough talent for a deep playoff run... and didn't have a SG blocking his starting spot. He had a similar contract offer from the Spurs, but with Ginobili there he would have played a lot less.

Yeah, it does make some sense for sure. If he's able to stay healthy and play well, and Houston does well, he will command a big contract after next season. Those are all ifs, though. It just seems like it may be hard, even after a good season this year, for him to get a better contract than what Sacto offered him. Also, as far as playing time, it's not as if he'll get as much playing time or exposure ashe would in other places. Tmac and Yao will score most of the points, and with Battier playing the same position as him, he'll be competeing for playing time, let alone points. I see how it could work out well for him in the end, it's just shocking when someone like Bonsi (a non-star, but very good player) turns down monwy like he was offered, only to take a gamble like this. The Rockets are serious winners here, as this is an absolute STEAL for them. They have to be considered a much bigger force in the west now, if they can finally sidestep all the health problems that have plagued them in recent years.

baytobrooklyn wrote:It just seems like it may be hard, even after a good season this year, for him to get a better contract than what Sacto offered him.

It was "just" a $35 million contract. I mean, he probably thought that, if Dunleavy, Caron Butler or Tayshaun Prince signed last year for $45 million, he should get something like that, at least.

baytobrooklyn wrote:Also, as far as playing time, it's not as if he'll get as much playing time or exposure ashe would in other places. Tmac and Yao will score most of the points, and with Battier playing the same position as him, he'll be competeing for playing time, let alone points.

Battier will play PF, from what the Rockets are saying. Bonzi will have the competition of Luther Head and Vassilis Spanoulis... and he shouldn't have problems beating those two for minutes.

My heavens is it ludicrous to think about Dunleavy making as much money as Tayshaun. It's like you know it's happening, but something about seeing it in that post really just made it hit home with me for the first time in a while.
<shudder>

baytobrooklyn wrote:My heavens is it ludicrous to think about Dunleavy making as much money as Tayshaun. It's like you know it's happening, but something about seeing it in that post really just made it hit home with me for the first time in a while.<shudder>

I do like Nelson calling them out on free throws. From what I watched last year (way too many) the only truly consistent free throw shooters were Fish and Ike, and Fish is now gone. Hope Nelson drills them, cause a collective 5% increase would result in 6-7 more wins/year...yes, the 2 grotesque contracts are both Mullin's - Dunleavy and Foyle, though both understandable at the time they were done.

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